Published Papers - Abstract 657

The combined effects of physical activity (PA) and sitting time (ST) on physical functioning (PF) may be stronger than for each factor separately. This study examined associations between ST, PA, and PF over 6 years in older women. Data were from 6,611 participants in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (mean age78 ± 1.5 years). Activity pattern at baseline (2002) was categorized as one of 12 combinations of ST (4, 4–7, or C8 h/day) and PA (40, 40–450, 450–900, or C900 METmin/week). PF was measured using the SF-36 (range 0–100) in 2002, 2005, and 2008. General estimating equations for linear regression were used with adjustment for confounders. Baseline PF ranged from 40 to 74 in the least to the most active groups. PF was 6.3 (95 % confidence interval [CI] -7.6 to -5.0) points lower in participants sitting C8 h/day than in participants sitting4 h/day, and 16.9 (CI 15.7–18.0) points higher in participants reporting C900 MET min/week than in participants reporting 40 MET min/week PA.